About This Website

Cookies

The osao.fi website uses cookies. A cookie is a small text file that an internet browser stores on a visitor’s device. Cookies are used to retain the visitor’s data as they move from one page of the website to another, for example. Cookies do not cause any harm to the visitor’s device or files. A cookie can be stored permanently on the visitor’s device or deleted after the visitor stops using the website.

Information collected with cookies includes but is not limited to the following:

•     Visitor’s IP address
•     Date and time
•     Browser type
•     Operating system
•     Screen resolution
•     Manner in which the visitor came to the website (search engine, direct link, etc.)
•     Previous visits to the website
•     Pages viewed on the osao.fi website

Website’s own cookies

The website’s own cookies may store visitor-specific information and settings required to use the site such as a username, service login data and language or region preferences. This data is used to implement the website’s features and customise the website, as well as to save choices made by the user. These cookies may be necessary for the functionality and use of the website. Cookies do not store any data used for marketing purposes or for tracking visitors in other services or on other websites.

Third party cookies

We use services provided by third parties to collect visitor statistics and analyse data in order to develop the quality and content of our website in a user-centred manner. For the purposes of visitor tracking and analytics, these services may save their own cookies, as well as use and combine the visitor’s data collected by the service from different websites.

For more information about each service provider’s actions, the collected data, the use of cookies and privacy policies, please visit the service providers’ websites.

Services used on the website

We also use third-party services on the website to better serve our customers. Below are brief descriptions of the third-party services we use. You should also see the service providers’ own privacy policies.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is Google’s tracking tool that reveals information such as how many visitors there are on a website at a given time and how they came to the site. We use Analytics to monitor marketing and the behaviour of our target groups. We use the data to compile anonymous aggregated statistics in order to understand how people use our website and how we can improve its structure and content.

Additional information: Google’s privacy policy and Google Analytics’ privacy policy and security principles

YouTube videos

Our website includes embedded videos produced by us that are hosted on YouTube, a service managed by Google. By watching these videos on our website, you consent to the use of cookies by YouTube.

Additional information: Google’s privacy policy and YouTube’s privacy policy and security principles

AddThis feature/sharing on social media

With AddThis, our customers can more easily share content on social media such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. When a customer uses AddThis, the service can place cookies on their computer. When a user clicks on a button on a social media platform, a third-party cookie (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is usually saved.

Zendesk chat

Zendesk chat is in use in the Finnish site. In the section that provides information for applicants, we have a chat service to provide guidance and advice on how to apply for vocational education and training. Conversations from the chat service can be viewed by the persons who provide guidance via the chat, who have been assigned user IDs in the software provider’s system (Zendesk) to access the chat service. OSAO’s chat conversations are not accessible to any third parties (not even the software provider Zendesk).

Chat conversations are saved in the customer service system. Data may be transferred from the system outside the EU/EEA. The system provider, Zendesk Inc, is certified in accordance with EU Commission Decision 2021/914/EU of 4 June 2021.

Managing cookies

You can delete existing cookies and disable the use of cookies in the settings of your browser. For instructions, please visit aboutcookies.org. However, disabling cookies may prevent the website from functioning properly.

Show my cookie settings

Personal data

In principle, you can visit the OSAO website without revealing your identity or any other information about yourself. Google Analytics only collects web browsing data from visitors to our website, not email addresses. We collect this data in order to monitor the number of visitors to the site, the pages viewed on the site, the average time spent on the site and other similar information. We are not able to identify any individual users based on this data.

However, in some cases we may require your personal data such as your name and address. If we require this data, we will state the purpose for which it is collected. The data may be required in connection with forms you complete on the website, for example.

Links used on the website

Our website may contain links to other websites. While we strive to add links only to sites whose privacy protection criteria match our own, we cannot be held liable for the content or privacy protection practices of other websites.

In accordance with the Finnish Copyright Act, rights to materials published on the website belong to OSAO or another information provider indicated in connection with a document. You may use links to materials on the website, but in any other matters concerning the use of the materials, please contact OSAO’s communications department.

OSAO is responsible for the content of the website. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information on the website is accurate and up to date. OSAO cannot be held liable for any costs or damage caused to website user by any errors in the content of the site. Neither is OSAO liable for any damage caused by interruptions in the use of data networks, other technical failures or any materials published by third parties that are linked to the website.

The OSAO website is subject to the EU Accessibility Directive, according to which everyone must have equal access to digital services.

Read the Accessibility Statement